Electric switch.



C. D. PLATT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. I916.

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ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ma 1917.

Application filed March 22, 1516. SeriaI No. 85,798. i

parts-t0 a minimum within proper limits of electrical and mechanical safety.

In its preferred form the invention comprises an insulating base, two pairs of stationary switch terminals, a pair of short switch blades connected by -an insulating handle extending across the blades above the contact jaws, and two fuse plug sockets with converging bent connectors between the switch jaws and the center plug contacts.

Other details will beapparent from the drawings and the following specification.

Figure 1 IS a plan view of the construction embodyingthe improvements of my in-- vention, the switch being in the closed or closed position in full. lines and on position.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view and side elevation on the plane of the line 3+3 of Fig. 1, showing the switch blades in the in the open or off position in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the switch blades and handle.

The base 10 is constructed of porcelain or other suitable insulating material. The stationary hinge postll of the switch is suitably secured to the base and provided with a circuit terminal 12. The jaw terminal 13 of the switch is also suitably secured to the base in line with the hinge terminal. The bladeli is hinged to the post 11 preferably with a suitable friction connection and its free end is adapted to engage between the jaws of the contact member 13, but prefer ably does not extend beyond the .jaws.

The fuse plug screw socket 15 is secured to the base in any suitable manner and is provided with a circuit terminal 16. The

center plug contact 17 is connected to the' aw terminal of the switch 13 by means of a bent bar or connector 18 which extends. from the back to the front of the base through an opening as is customary in such constructions.

The screw sockets 15 are preferably partially surrounded by guard flanges l9 and the two flanges are connected by a web 20 which reinforces the parts. The two sockets are preferably located as near together as possible, and the connectors 18 converge from the, jaw terminals of the switch to the center terminals of the sockets.

The handle ofthe switch 21 is preferably formed of insulating material such as vulcanized fiber and is preferably broad and proi'ided with an opening 22 for the finger or fingers.- The opposite ends of this handle are preferably riveted to lugs 23 projecting outwardly from bracket portions 24 on the outer faces of the switch blades.

The construction will be seen to be very compact. The switch handle extending across the switch blades is readily accessible,

and is located in such a position that it is practically impossible for the operator to be affected by the are when opening the circuit. The ends of the switch handle and the lugs 23 serve as stops to limit the movement of the switch blades to the closed position, so'

that the closing action is uniform. The switch blades being much shorter than in the usual construction take up very much less room so that the entire construction can be shorter. ted line position of Fig. 3 that less space is required below the insulating block 10 than would be the case if'the switch arms were longer, as in the usual construction. By having the handle inclined and with a central opening, it is easier to take hold of the handle both in the opening and closing EIOVSIIIQIltS than it would be with a straight By reducing the size of the base both laterally and longitudinally, I have not only reduced the cost of the construction itself but reduced the cost of packing and the cost'.

It will also be noted from the dotthreepole as well as-to an insulating base, hinge posts mounted on said base, switch contacts on the baseln line with the hinge posts, parallel switch blades pivoted at their base ends to said posts and disposed to en'gage the switch contacts with their free swinging ends, handle supporting lugs projecting outwardly from the edge portions of the blades near the free ends with the hinge posts, parallel switch blades pivoted at their base ends to said posts and arranged to engage the switch contacts with their free swinging ends, handle supporting lugs on the edge portions of the switch blades adjacent the free ends thereof, projecting laterally from the plane of the blades and inclined away from the free ends of the blades to form laterally disposed inclined seats for a handle, and an operating handle having-substantially flat end portions bearing on said laterally projecting lugs and rigidly secured thereto and having a portion projecting between the switch contacts, when the blades are in the closed circuit position, to form a finger guard.

3., In a switch of the character described, an insulating base, hinge posts mounted on said base, switch contacts on the base in linewith the hinge posts, parallel switch blades pivoted at their base ends to the hinge posts and arranged to engage the upstanding switch contacts with their free swinging ends and a handle secured to said switch blades at a point above the contacts when the switch is closed and provided witha dependent intermediate portion between the switch blades extending in between the upstanding switch contacts in said switchclosed position. I

4;. In an electric switch, an insulating base, a pair of posts and circuit terminals secured at one end of said base, a pair. of threaded fuse sockets and circuit terminals secured to the oppositeend of said base, stationary switch contacts secured to said base between said posts and said sockets, the center of said fuse sockets being closer together than said contacts, converging connectors connecting said contacts and said fuse sockets, a' switch blade pivoted at one end to each post and engaging at its opposite end with one of said contacts, an inclined insu lating handle member secured to said switch blades between the ends thereof and above said contacts and having a passage for the finger between said contacts in line with the space between said fuse sockets, part of said handle serving as a guard to extend between said contacts and prevent the finger from coming in contact with live parts when the switch is closed.

5. In a switch of the character described,

an insulating base, hinge posts mounted on said base, switch contacts on the base in line with the hinge posts, a pair of switch blades arranged side by side and pivoted at their base ends to the hinge posts andarranged to engage the upstanding switch contacts with their free swinging ends and a I handle secured to said switch blades at a "point above the contacts when theswitch is:

closed and a guard means between the upstanding switch contacts to practically prevent the finger from engaging the same when dislodging said blades from said contacts. r I

CLARENCE D. PLATT.. 

